Morelet (1860) extended the range of L. azorica to Santa Maria as variety γ minor, which Backhuys (1975) elevated to subspecific level. van Riel et al. (2005), using molecular data, found evidence for specific separation of the populations from Santa Maria. Backhuys (1975) states the type locality as “Azores, Santa Maria, Ribeira Almagreira”; however, just after that statement, the author mentions the 2 specimens from Pico Alto as “paratypes”. Ribeiro, Almagreira is at the footsteps of Pico Alto; for that reason, although confusing, this locality imprecision is not worth correcting.

Justification:
The area from where L. minor has been recorded is small (extent of occurrence = 97 km2); although there is continuous forest, it is mostly secondary forest used for resources, which is liable to be cut down in the future. On the lower half of Pico Alto cattle affect the forest habitat through grazing and trampling, and may exclude the species from lower altitudes, further restricting its habitat. Therefore it has been assessed as Endangered (EN B1ab(iii)).

Leptaxis minor is relatively uncommon and highly restricted, but it has adapted to secondary forests where there is a thick undergrowth of Hedychium. However the secondary forest is liable to be cut down, and on the lower half of Pico Alto, there is cattle that is let to enter the forest of Pittosporum, thus destroying the habitat by grazing and trampling, excluding L. minor from lower altitudes, further restricting its habitat.